Irene Elizabeth (Thayer) STOFFER

THAYER, STOFFER, SPURLIN, HEWITT, RUBENDALL, SIMM, FISCHER, SMITH, BURKA, MIDDLETON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

January 27, 1922 –--- June 4, 2018

Irene E. Stoffer, age 96, a life long resident of Belmond, IA, died Monday, June 4, 2018, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 10:30 AM, at the Belmond United Methodist Church. The Reverend Leila Blackburn will be officiating. Burial with full military honor provided by the Belmond Honor Guard will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at church Thursday.

Irene Elizabeth Thayer, the daughter of Claude and Clara (Spurlin) Thayer, was born January 27, 1922, in Belmond, IA. She attended Belmond Community Schools and graduated from Belmond High School in the Class of 1940. Following high school Irene was employed in clerical positions at various places including for Dr. A. M. Nelson in Belmond and also for a time in Clarion, IA. Irene then served her country as member of the U.S. Navy-Waves during WWII. During her tenure she spent periods of time in the United States and Hawaii. A great amount of her duties were in the secretarial/administrative areas of the service. She was honorable discharged at a Yeoman 2nd Class. Upon returning to civilian life Irene returned to the office/secretarial field and was employed at several places in Belmond. Irene eventually went into partnership with her sister-in-law Arlene and the two operated and owned the Belmond Style Shop. The style shop was a perfect fit for Irene as she was always well dressed and looking very elegant. Irene eventually worked for the Belmond Department Store for a time before retiring.

Irene met Edward V. Stoffer, at a dance and the two were united in marriage on February 9, 1946, at the United Methodist Church Parsonage in Belmond. A union that would last more than 72 years. The couple's marriage was blessed with a son, Douglas, and a daughter, Roxy. Irene relished the roles of being a loving wife, caring and nurturing mother and a doting grandma and great grandma. She very much focused her energies, love and ambitions on her family and looked forward to any event or occasion that meant being in their presence. She loved family gatherings and also times spent with extended family and friends. She and Ed enjoyed outings to area dancing venues and playing cards with family and friends.

Irene over the years her children and grandchildren were blessed with many special gifts that she made with her handicraft work including afghans, quilts, cross stitched and crocheted one of a kind items. She enjoyed loved young children and baby-sitting the grandkids and great grandkids and they often spent time hosting their grandkids at their home in Belmond during the summers.

During their retirement years, Irene and Ed traveled around much of the U.S. in their motor home and had been to many places including: Alaska, Texas, Michigan, Florida, and many other places. The two also looked forward to fishing excursions. Two favorite destinations were Lake Winnibigoshish and Cut Foot Sioux. She was a long time member of the VFW Post #4244 Ladies Auxiliary.

Irene had became a resident of the Rehabilitation Center on February 5, 2018. She will be remembered as a dignified lady, full of love for her husband and family, and as a lady who truly had a love for all of her friends and neighbors.

Her legacy will continue in the hearts and minds of her husband, Ed Stoffer, Belmond, IA; son Douglas (Shirley) Stoffer, Belmond, IA and their children and families: Cheri (Brian) Hewitt and son Brady, West Des Moines, IA, Clay (Jennifer) Stoffer and their children Makenzie and Caden, all of Fairfax, IA,; daughter, Roxy (Leon) Rubendall, Sac City, IA, and their children Shelly (Chad) Simm and their son Joshua all of Paullina, IA, and Angela Fischer and her daughters, Jordan, Riley, and Carly all of Sac City, IA; a sister Genevieve Smith, Lincoln, NE, and many nieces and nephews. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Dorothea Burka, and Alberta Middleton, and several brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa
http://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com/obituary/irene-stoffer